A Bundle of Nerves and Rabbit Ears

Jiang Jifeng stood on the top-floor penthouse of MAHA Beijing. Before him was a massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the sprawling, glittering night view of the capital.

The window reflected his expression; his brow was slightly furrowed, betraying a hint of impatience. After a moment, he spoke, “Grandpa, you already know the answer. Why bother asking me again?”

It was unclear what Elder Jiang said on the other end, but Jiang Jifeng pinched the bridge of his nose with his long fingers. His tone cooled, falling into the deep, detached cadence unique to Cantonese. “Is there anything that can be hidden from you? You not only know Wen Yang is in Beijing, you even know she’s in my company.”

“I’m not being stubborn. I’ve already agreed to marry you. How we interact after the marriage is my personal business—can’t you just stay out of it?”

Jiang Jifeng stopped there, but Elder Jiang continued his relentless output. Jiang Jifeng simply turned on the speakerphone and tossed the mobile onto the sofa. The elder’s voice echoed through the living room. Despite being in his late seventies, his Cantonese came in a ceaseless torrent. “If I don’t step in, I’ll never hold a great-grandson in this lifetime! I don’t care how busy you are, you must start making proper contact with the Wen girl right now. I’m not demanding you live together immediately, but at the very least, you have to take action.”

“And don’t you dare take out your anger over me forcing this marriage on the girl. If she knew what a rotten personality you have, she might not even want you—” Elder Jiang likely grew tired of talking; near the end, his tone shifted. “I like the Wen girl very much. I don’t care who your parents want you to marry; she is the one I’ve chosen. I only recognize her as my granddaughter-in-law.”

“Besides, you’re nearly thirty. You have to marry regardless. If it’s not this Wen Yang, it’ll be the next Wen Yang.” The Elder paused. “You should know why I like her… weigh the options yourself. If push comes to shove, I’ll make a trip to Beijing personally.”

Elder Jiang hung up the phone in a huff. The noisy berating in the living room stopped abruptly, replaced by a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop.

The stillness following such a commotion often leaves the mind momentarily blank.

While the Elder had been rambling, Jiang Jifeng’s mind was on work. But in this brief void, he actually began to ponder his grandfather’s words.

If it’s not this Wen Yang, it’ll be the next Wen Yang.

If it wasn’t his grandfather picking the person, it would be his parents. Ultimately, they just wanted him married. Married to someone they approved of. Of course, if he had a preferred candidate before this, his grandfather would have supported him. It was just that he was utterly clueless when it came to romance.

He had never liked anyone, nor did he have any experience in dating. He couldn’t quite grasp why his grandfather liked Wen Yang so much, aside from that aura of clean elegance she carried.

But he had to admit his grandfather had a point. No matter who he married, he would be forced into “getting to know them” by his elders. At least Wen Yang had said today that she came to Beijing to be far away from Hong Kong. Digging deeper, it meant she had no feelings for him either.

Therefore, she likely didn’t want the Elder coming to Beijing either.

It was already half-past midnight, but Wen Yang was still tossing and turning.

During work, the planning proposals kept her head spinning, but once she clocked out, her private emotions slowly flooded her mind. Even now, they had completely chased away any drowsiness. She truly couldn’t figure out why, after fleeing all the way to Beijing, she would run into him again. It would be one thing if they were just in the same city, but they were in the same company—and she was in charge of a project he valued most.

She pulled the duvet over her face, leaving only her round, almond-shaped eyes exposed.

She knew that from the moment Jiang Jifeng appeared in Beijing, her peace was destined to end. If her own grandfather knew Jiang Jifeng was here, she didn’t know what the old man would do, but it certainly wouldn’t be quiet.

She didn’t know what time it was when her messy thoughts finally dissolved into a chaotic sleep. When she woke, she was nearly late.

Can’t sleep at night, can’t wake up in the morning. Wen Yang slapped her cheeks, washed up, and immediately hopped on the subway to the office. The company was quite far from home; the commute took an hour and a half.

In Beijing’s winter, the cold wind was no different from an ice blade.

Wen Yang arrived at the office just in the nick of time, clutching a 6.5-yuan McDonald’s breakfast she bought near the subway. A cup of hot coffee and a McMuffin. She had just reached her desk, bundled up like a zongzi—still wearing the layers of down jackets, scarves, and fluffy rabbit ear muffs she used to fend off the cold—when Fang Hui tapped on her desk. “The boss is looking for you.”

The members of Team A, as well as those from nearby teams, all looked over.

Wen Yang’s nose and chin were buried in her thick scarf, leaving only those damp almond eyes visible. She blinked a few times before her brain seemed to boot up. She gave a low “oh” and said, “Let me get organized—”

“No need. The boss seems very urgent. He told me as soon as he arrived half an hour ago to send you in the moment you got here.” Fang Hui had pity in her eyes as she patted Wen Yang’s shoulder. “If you go in and he still brings up the fact that you didn’t go to welcome him yesterday, just apologize and give in. It’s no good having him pick on you every day.”

Jiang Jifeng’s office wasn’t on this floor; it was on the top floor.

The original owner of this building only held the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors. But when Wen Yang first joined, she had heard everyone praising the new boss’s extravagance—he had taken everything above the 7th floor directly, with new business injections to follow. She never expected that this extravagant boss was the husband she was being forced to marry.

When Wen Yang reached the top floor and the elevator opened, she was immediately met with massive floor-to-ceiling windows. The decor was a palette of dark grays, featuring a black desk set against the window. On the other side was a black bookshelf with built-in light strips, a black U-shaped sofa, and a gray cashmere rug. It was clear the owner of the office favored tranquility.

When she entered, Jiang Jifeng was sitting in a black leather chair. Before him were neat and orderly documents; he was bowing his head to sign one.

Wen Yang thought she would have to wait a while, but he stopped mid-signature. He stood up while buttoning his gray suit jacket. “Apologies. I have some urgent matters to discuss with you today. I’ll take ten minutes of your work time.”

Wen Yang followed his lead over to the sofa.

A male secretary promptly brought two cups of hot coffee. As they sat face-to-face, Wen Yang took off her fluffy rabbit ear muffs. She sniffed and asked, “President Jiang, what did you need me for?”

Jiang Jifeng leaned halfway against the sofa back, his long legs crossed. His fingers—shaped like elegant jade fan-ribs—were interlaced. He looked at Wen Yang and said, “I came today because I need your help with something.”

Jiang Jifeng needed her help? Wen Yang truly couldn’t fathom what he could possibly need from her. She spoke her mind directly: “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Last night, my grandfather called me,” Jiang Jifeng said. “He knows you’re in Beijing. He wants me to spend time with you; otherwise, he’ll come to Beijing himself.”

The Elder demanded they “get to know each other,” but since the old man wasn’t in Beijing, he wouldn’t know the extent of their interaction. They could hide things and lie to some degree.

But if the Elder actually came to Beijing, it wouldn’t be as simple as “getting to know each other.” He didn’t want to comply, but he knew the old man’s temperament. If truly provoked, he’d cause a massive scene. The worst-case scenario would be a divorce followed by marrying someone else.

However, that “divorce” was only a hypothetical worst-case; it was practically impossible.

First, as long as the Elder was alive, he would never allow a divorce. One, it would ruin the Jiang family’s reputation. Two, the Elder had explicitly stated he liked Wen Yang—in other words, it had to be her.

From his personal perspective, if he remarried, he would still have to go through the “getting to know you” phase with a second person. Since he had to reach this step regardless of who it was, he didn’t want to take the long way around.

“And so?” Wen Yang asked.

“I know you have no heart for maintaining this relationship either,” Jiang Jifeng said in his usual nonchalant tone. “So, if the Elder calls to ask you, or if your grandfather calls, please tell them that we’ve been talking quite well lately.”

This request was actually a good thing for her; it saved a lot of trouble. It also resolved her worries from last night—she had been wondering how to explain things to her grandfather if he found out.

This solved her current predicament perfectly.

“I can do that,” Wen Yang said, before adding a question. “But Grandpa Jiang shouldn’t go over your head to contact me, right?”

Jiang Jifeng pondered for a moment. Rare for him, he lost some of his gravity. A hint of a smile appeared in his expressive eyes. He leaned back against the sofa in a comfortable, lazy posture. Then, he languidly lifted his eyelids and said in a warm tone, “Regarding yesterday, I was out of line. My apologies.”

Wen Yang hadn’t actually been fishing for that. She paused, thinking of his attitude yesterday, and countered, “President Jiang, do you usually like to overthink things so much?”

Jiang Jifeng could easily hear the subtext.

Yesterday, he had been too certain, bluntly judging that she was in contact with Elder Jiang, which was why she had come to the company.

At this thought, he sat up straight. Just as he was about to offer a formal apology, Wen Yang spoke first with a generous air: “I didn’t take it to heart. I just hope that next time, President Jiang won’t be so certain in your personal judgments regarding every action I take in this marriage.”

Wen Yang was likely still chilled from outside. The hot coffee before her acted like medicine to thaw her out. She took a sip, the aroma flowing down her throat. Before she finished, she heard the man in front of her speak with a slight smile in his voice. “Though Miss Wen didn’t take it to heart, I still need to say I’m sorry. Thank you for forgiving my bluntness.”

This kind of gentle, gentlemanly, and direct apology wasn’t a vague, awkward “I’m sorry,” but a clear explanation that his bluntness yesterday had made her unhappy. The more successful a man is, the more charming he seems when he shows a soft side.

Clutching her coffee, Wen Yang lowered her almond eyes. She was the type whose anger came fast but dissipated just as quickly. Since he had apologized, she truly felt it was no big deal—if anything, she felt she had overreacted a bit.

“I understand what you’ve said. I’ll tell them we are getting along well. Since there’s nothing else, I’ll go down to work.” As Wen Yang spoke, she placed her coffee on the table. But because she was dressed like a zongzi, and there was some distance between the sofa and the coffee table, she had to lean forward. One side of her scarf slipped off as she moved. After setting the cup down, she readjusted her scarf and put her fluffy rabbit ear muffs back on.

The moment she stood up, Jiang Jifeng said, “Miss Wen, could I have your phone number? Or, if you find it inconvenient, you can save my number instead.”

As a married couple, not even having each other’s contact information was indeed a bit unreasonable. However, she glanced at Jiang Jifeng, who had also stood up. He was tall, refined, and possessed an introverted aura. He gentlemanly handed over his phone. She looked down and saw his contact list open, waiting for her to input her number.

The way he asked for a number looked very practiced. As expected. A real player.

“Miss Wen?” Jiang Jifeng said warmly. “Is it inconvenient?”

Wen Yang’s train of thought was interrupted. She wasn’t like him—how could it be inconvenient! She didn’t answer but took his phone, typed in her number, and handed it back. As he took it, their fingertips brushed.

It just so happened that her coat today was very thick. The friction from her movements had generated quite a bit of static electricity. The shock was powerful; Wen Yang clearly felt his frame flinch slightly.

Embarrassed, she turned and left.

When she returned to her station, Fang Hui asked with concern, “Are you okay?” Ke Li pressed, “What did he say to you?”

“Just… the same thing as yesterday.”

Wen Yang didn’t want to talk about it further. Ke Li and the others mistakenly thought Jiang Jifeng had scolded her again. Ke Li couldn’t help but complain on Wen Yang’s behalf. “So petty… just because you didn’t go to welcome him into the office, is it really necessary to scold someone first thing in the morning two days in a row!”

Somehow, by the afternoon, everyone in the area knew that Wen Yang from Team A (Agricultural Products) had been dragged into the office and scolded by the boss for two consecutive days because she hadn’t welcomed him.

Even the male secretary on the top floor heard about it.

The male secretary watched Assistant Gao walk out, hesitating to speak. Finally, under Xiao Gao’s confused gaze, he told him the story and asked, “Assistant Gao, did that really happen?”

Assistant Gao couldn’t privately deny or confirm anything on the boss’s behalf. He simply frowned. “Just do your work. Don’t gossip about the boss’s business.”

Assistant Gao’s words only made the secretary believe it more, so he silently shut his mouth.

Half an hour later, during Jiang Jifeng’s scheduled coffee time, Assistant Gao brought a cup in. After placing it on the designated coaster—usually, he would leave immediately as President Jiang didn’t like being disturbed while working—he suddenly thought of the secretary’s words. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “Boss, there are some unpleasant rumors in the company regarding you and Madam.”

In the afternoon, Fang Hui announced some good news: the Jiangmen Xinan Agricultural Project had been approved.

Completing the project came with a bonus on top of their base salary, but it also meant they had to start working overtime.

Wen Yang opened her phone and saw a voice message from her grandfather. It wasn’t long, only thirty seconds. Because he was speaking in their local dialect, the text-to-speech couldn’t recognize it, so she held it to her ear to listen.

The thirty seconds were filled with concern: was she cold in Beijing? Was she wearing enough? Did she have enough money? Wen Yang smiled softly and typed a reply: [Grandpa, everything is fine. Don’t worry about me!]

Grandpa: [Yang, good. When you finish work, Grandpa wants to video chat!]

Wen Yang’s heart sank. She replied with a “Good.”

She didn’t know if her grandfather also knew Jiang Jifeng was in Beijing and was waiting for the evening to fish for information. Luckily, Jiang Jifeng had already coordinated a strategy with her today.

As she exited the chat with her grandfather, she unexpectedly noticed a red “1” on her contact list tab below.

She tapped in. It was a friend request. The profile picture was a black crescent moon, and the WeChat name was just a “J.” 她在点击。Five words entered her eyes: I am Jiang Jifeng.

Why was he adding her on WeChat?

Wen Yang thought for a moment and suddenly realized his intent. They had agreed to say they were getting along well, so not having each other on WeChat would look suspicious. If Grandpa Jiang or her grandfather asked, she could at least show them that they had added each other.

With that in mind, Wen Yang tapped “Accept.” The chat page immediately flashed an automated message: You have added J. Now you can start chatting.

Looking at the empty chat box, she remembered she had to video call her grandfather tonight. If he asked what they talked about, what would she say?

Wen Yang’s eyes flickered. Her slender fingertips trembled as she decided to go all out. If they were going to pretend, they might as well make it look real. She could use this for a screenshot. If her grandfather asked during the video call tonight, she could show him a screenshot to prove they were actually talking.

So, Wen Yang sent a message directly into the chat with Jiang Jifeng: —”Lunch today was delicious, thank you. However, the project was just approved, so I have to work overtime tonight and might have to miss our date. When I’m free in a few days, I’ll treat you to a meal in return~”

On the top floor, processing remote files from Hong Kong, Jiang Jifeng saw this bizarre message. He pondered for a moment, put down his pen, picked up his phone, and replied: [Miss Wen, I think you sent that to the wrong person.]

[However, even though you said to act as if this relationship doesn’t exist, we are still legally husband and wife. Isn’t being this blatant a bit too much?]